Improvement in compositor s copy-holder



@with .tutes @anni ffice.

P. AQLA FRANCE, 0F. ELMIRA, AssiGNoR 'ro HIMSELF AND n.

DALL, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y. l Letters Patent No. 70,865, dated November 12, 18.67.

n. KEN- IMPROVBMBNT IN GOMPOSITOBS GOPY-HOLDBR.

To ALL WHOM 1r MAY CONCERN=- Be it known that LAP. A. LA FRANQE, of EIinira, -Chcmung county, New York, have invented a new and improved Compositors Copy-Holder; and I do herebyfdeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of -this specicatiomin whichA l Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved copyholder.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views, showing modifications in its construction. Figure 4 is a side view of thesaine. i Figures 5 and 6 are similariside views, showing modifications in its construction.

Figure 'i' is a vertical cross-section of .`the`same, the plane lof section'being-indicated-by the line :c :'z', g. 6.

' Similar lettersof reference 'indieate'corresponding parts. i A' This invention relates to a new device for holding the manuscript on printersl type-cases; and consists in the arrangement and construction of a platform, which restson suitable supports provided for that purpose on the type-case, and 'which'canbel'easily moved laterally on the sai'd type-case, to enable the compositorito reach Vall the types. It islprov'ided with a folding presser whichhas `wire ingers for holding the manuscript,on'v'the` i', platform, and is furthermore provided with a sliding indicator-bar, which' is to show at a 'glance what line of the" manuscript the compositor is-copyi-ng. The platform'is furthermore provided with sliding extensions, by which I' itis enabled to hold broadsheets of manuscript, said extensions being 'so'.arrang'edas tolhe easily brought out, 'of the way when not required. y I I v v- The object of the'invcntion is to provide a manuscript-holder which'is to supersede the we ightedjcord genj" erally used, and by means of which the manuscript lcan be kept'clcan, and which hold'd the latter'iu such away' that it cannot be blown away nor disturbed by the wind, and which,furt hermore, is adapted-foi. 'all sizes of paper, from the smallest slip to the largest slip. A 1 v f A represents a board made ofi wood or other suitable material. 'Its size would, by preference, be aboutlikc that of a sheet of ordinary foolseap paper, but it may,vifi'desired, bc-made ofany suitable dimensions.. It is placed upon the type-case B, so as to rest upon alcdgepa, which isformed onthelower edgeof the latter, as shown in figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5; und smallrollers may he fixed on the ledge or on the boafr'd'to facilitate lateral motion. At its upper end is an arm, b, which has at its end 'a roller, c, which rests upon theupper longitudinal lining d of the case B, as is clearly shown in figs. 1 and'4. :Bythis arrangement the board A can be moved laterally on the'case B to uncover types which may be needed for the'composition. A n equivalcntfor the arm b and roller c would be wire extension e, the two ends of'whichare fitted into lthe uppery edge of the board A, while its outer bent cndfrests upon-thc lining d ofthe caseB, as is clearly shown in iigs. 2 and 5'. The lateral motion ofthe board on the case would be as easy as when the roller is used', especially if the partf of the wire eis rounded and bent -`downwards, as shown. Full equivalents for the 'extensions e and b, whereby also the ledge alcould be dispensed with, would be two or more wires or rails, g, which are stretched across the case B, und which vfit into 'grooves t L, which are provided for that purpose on the under side of the board A, as is clearly shown in iigs. S, 6, and 7. By this latter'arrangementthe board A wouldfrest aud easily slide upon the wiresgg, and any further supports or guides would bc unnecessary. Near toone sidel of the board A is arranged a bar, C, which is about as long as thc board A. It is connected, by means of two or more spiral or other springs, t' e', fig. r(,with the board A, said springs holding'the bar C close to the board..Y A number of wirel ngers, jj, forholding the manuscript upon the board, projects from one side of the strip C, and rest close upon the board A, as shown.'v The strip C is provided with a knob or handle, k, by which it can be turnedv s o as to` r'aise the fingers 7' from the board, and thus allow the insertion or removal of the'manuscript; By attaching the ends of the springs to the strip C andv board A, hinges for connecting the said strip with the board are' dispensed with; but, if desired, the strip C may be hinged to the board, and be acted upon by .the spring z' lin sucha manner that the iingersj will be pressed upon the board. D is a burmade of wood or sheet metal, and provided at its under side, Vat or near one end, with a tenon, Z, which fits into adove-tail or other groove,`m, that is formed either directly in the face of the board, near one edge ofthe sume, or cna strip, n, secured thereto, said groove extending from top to bottom end of the board. The bar D is for the purpose of indicating the line for whiehthe copy is being taken, and4 so to avoid the tedious searching for the required linie. By the use of this bar type can be set muehquicker than ordinarily. E E are two slotted sheet-metal plates, which are secured, by means of screws or pins, o, that t through their slots, to the face of the board A, near to that edge of the same whichV is opposite to that near which the groove m and strip C are arranged. The object of these strips E is to allow an extension of the board, so that broader sheets of paper can be held thereon. They can also be used for holding small slips of paper, which are inserted under their inner ends by slightly raising the said end. F is a wire extension, which may, in place of or besides the plates E, be arranged on the board A. Its shape is fully shown in figs. 2, 3, and 7. It is so itted in the holes which are-bored into the edge of the board that it' can be moved in or out at pleasure. An equivalent for the lgrooves g would be the use of staples or hooks, tted to the under side of the board A so as to surround either partly or wholly the wires or rails 7L.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The beard A, when provided with the extension I and roller c, or their equivalents, and with the spring iinger-bar C for holding the manuscript, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

2. The board A, when provided with the extension e, orits equivalents, and with the indicating sliding bar D, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described. Y

3. The board A, when provided with grooves it L or their equivalents, and with slotted plate or plates E or their equivalents, substantially as herein shown and described. i

4. The board A, when arranged as described, so that it can be moved laterally on the type-'ease B, and when provided-with the spring finger-bar C, sliding indicator-bar D, and extension-bars E, or equivalents, all

made and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

. P. A. LA FRANCE.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMARA, ALEX. F.7R0Bu1vrs. 

